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We often get asked what we think is the best canal route in the UK to take from one of our nine narrowboat hire bases.
So we’ve put together our list of what we think are the best canal routes to explore, from beautiful countryside cruises to unique city views.
Each visitor to the waterways has their own idea of a perfect cruise, of course. So we’ve included here a mix of easy cruising, with few or no locks to more active cruising with a feeling of accomplishment – completing a waterways Ring, for example, which may be over 100 miles long!
If you’re in any doubt which may suit you and your party, then don’t hesitate to give our friendly team a call and we’ll help you pick a route to match your expectations perfectly.
1) A short break cruise to Oxford
Any overseas visitor to the UK will surely be looking for the full-on traditional ‘olde England’ experience. The old cosy pubs, the towering cathedrals, the quaint shops and little cobbled back streets. We say, head straight to Oxford for one of the best canal routes in the UK!
Oxford often feels familiar because it is used as the backdrop for so many films and TV programmes, most famously Inspector More and Harry Potter. The world famous University buildings include Christ Church College, Wadham College and Magdalene College. Other interesting sights are the Ashmolean Museum, Carfax Tower, Botanic Gardens – the oldest in Britain – and Sheldonian Theatre.
Cruising to Oxford on the South Oxford Canal means you take in some wonderfully named villages including Thrupp, Lower Heyford and Shipton-on-Cherwell where you’ll find traditional stone built houses, the afore-mentioned cosy pubs, ancient churches and village greens that date back centuries.
You can visit Oxford from our Napton narrowboat hire base, located at the head of the Oxford Canal.
2) Leek, Staffordshire
Apart from being able to snigger at the name, Leek makes our list due to its location at the end of the Leek and Caldon Canal, on the southwestern edge of the Peak District. It stands on a hill in a large bend in the River Churnet and is locally known as ‘The Queen of the Moorlands’.
The Caldon Canal is arguably one of the most beautiful and quiet canals in the UK, and narrow boating along this route gives you the chance to see a fascinating mix of the UK’s industrial heritage and traditional countryside.
You can visit Leek from our Stoke on Trent canal base.
3) Cadbury World
Ok, so we’ve included this because we are big fans of chocolate. And Cadbury’s in particular. So ignoring the fact that the company was recently taken over by a big American corporate, we’ll tell you why this is a great place to visit.
Cadbury World has become one of Birmingham’s largest leisure attractions – welcoming over 500,000 visitors each year, and offering an education programme which links directly back to the educational advancements of the company’s original founding fathers. On the visit you can explore the 14 zones that tell the story of chocolate and the Cadbury business through various static sets, animatronics, video presentations, multi-sensory cinema, interactive displays and activities, and staff demonstrations.
You can visit Cadbury World from our canal boat hire base in Worcestershire.
4) Stratford-Upon-Avon
The birthplace of playwright William Shakespeare has to go near the top of the list, surely he’s the most famous Briton who ever lived?
To visit Stratford upon Avon you can cruise the Avon Ring and stop off at Stratford where you can pay homage to some of the UK’s most important cultural areas, such as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Shakespeare’s house.
You can visit Stratford-Upon-Avon, one of the best canal routes in the UK, from our canal boat hire base in Worcestershire.
5) Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wales
The breathtaking Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is located in the beautiful Welsh countryside and a World Heritage Site. It’s a fantastic spot to witness a pioneering feat of engineering that amazed the world back in 1801, designed by the famous engineer Thomas Telford.
The aqueduct offers the most amazing view as you slowly direct your canal boat along the narrow trough that is suspended in the air. The aqueduct is 3.7 meters wide and 307 meters long and built on 18 arched stone piers.
You need to have a head for heights if taking a canal boat across, it’s a sheer drop over one side of the boat, with a footpath on the other side if the experience becomes to much!
You can reach the aqueduct from our canal boat hire base in Wales.
6) Linlithgow, Scotland
The name Linlithgow is said to mean “loch in a damp hollow” from llyn (loch), laith (damp) and cau (a hollow), which doesn’t really do much to recommend it. However, delve a little deeper and you’ll discover why this becomes a fascinating place to visit.
Linlithgow is an ancient royal burgh located near the Union Canal, which lies south of two famous landmarks, Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch.
Head first to the remains of Linlithgow Palace, the birthplace of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots, and probably Scotland’s best surviving late medieval secular building. Pack a picnic as the grounds are home to a beautiful public park known as The Peel, where you can relax with your rug and sandwiches
After your lunch you’ll be thirsty to make your way into town where you’ll find the High Street which is particularly famous for it’s high number of ancient taverns as well as many historic buildings such as the Cross Well of 1807 and the Town House dating back to 1668.
If you’re feeling sporty then head over to Linlithgow lock as it’s popular for water sports and is also a notable spot for bird watching. It is three quarters of a mile long and contains a fishery.
You can visit Linlithgow from our Falkirk canal boat hire base in Scotland.
7) Bath, Wiltshire
Enjoy the ultimate spa break to Bath. After your active cruise along the Kennet and Avon Canal, you can moor up close to the city centre and walk in to enjoy all that this famous city in Wiltshire has to offer, from the old Roman Spa museum to the luxury leisure spa’s when you can book in for a couple of hours of pampering.
Plus, don’t miss the Jane Austin museum, the Pump House and the chance to explore all the boutique shops and eateries.
You can reach the city of Bath from our canal boat hire base in Bradford on Avon.
8) Lymm, Cheshire
The small and photogenic town of Lymm has previously been voted as one of the top places to live in the UK and it’s easy to see why. It’s a village with plenty of pubs, cafés and restaurants, plus a handful of interesting places to visit.
The route to Lymm is a lovely countryside cruise, where you can moor in the middle of nature and wake to the sound of a bird dawn chorus. The Bridgewater Canal in Cheshire is easy to navigate, being wide with only one lock, and is great to getting back to basics in nature.
Head to the Lymm Heritage Centre in the heart of the village just off Bridgewater Street, where local history is brought to life and don’t miss such events as the famous Duck Race, the May Queen, Historic Transport Day, Lymm Festival, Beer Festival and Dickensian Day!
You can visit Lymm from our Acton Bridge canal boat hire base in Cheshire.
9) Worcester, Worcestershire
From our Stoke Prior narrowboat hire base in the midlands, you can enjoy a short break to the historic town of Worcester. This small city is special for its historical significance, including its role in the English Civil War and being the final resting place of King John. It is also famous as the home of Worcestershire sauce and Royal Worcester porcelain, and is the birthplace of composer Edward Elgar.
You can reach the city of Worcester from our canal boat hire base in Bradford on Avon.
10) The Potteries, Staffordshire
You can immerse yourself into the incredible industrial history of the inland waterways with a narrowboat holiday in Staffordshire.
Stoke on Trent in Staffordshire became a centre of ceramic production in the early 17th century due to the local availability of clay, salt, lead and coal, leading to the famous names of Wedgwood, Royal Doulton and Emma Bridgewater building their businesses here.
Our canal boat hire base in Stoke on Trent is located in the heart of this area known as ‘The Potteries’ and the journey out of town is a fascinating one as you pass the factories and chimneys that showcase the history of this area.
One of the most striking sights are the bottle kilns that were typical of the industrial landscape of Stoke-on-Trent. These special ovens, designed for firing the pottery, were mostly built in the later 18th and the 19th centuries, and some remain today which can be seen on the side of the canals in this area.
You can see the bottle kilns and visit various potteries from our canal boat hire base in Stoke on Trent.
11) Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Delve back in time with a narrowboat holiday in Cambridgeshire.
In this historic region you can cruise the River Cam and the River Ouse, taking in the city of Cambridge as well as the smaller, quaint English villages that date back to medieval times.
The River Cam, immortalised in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, meanders its way to the historic city of Cambridge. The Cam offers lovely scenic views as you pass through the picturesque villages of St Ives and St Neots.
Cambridgeshire is often referred to as ‘The Holy Land of the English’ with its multitude of churches and cathedrals. As well as Ely Cathedral, it’s worth checking out the beautiful buildings in Ramsey, Crowland, Thorney and Peterborough.
The Black Prince Cambridgeshire canal boat hire base is located in the heart of the Fenland waterways at Ely.
WHERE WILL YOU START?
Take a look at our LOCATIONS page to start planning your narrowboat holiday.
Or if you would like help planning your adventure then call on +44 (0)1527 575 115 and a Black Prince team member will be happy to help!